I will start by saying I am a big fan of Abel reels. I own 4 of them and will buy more. This reel is beautifully finished and has a great sound to it when a fish runs. My only complaint is that the drag is not adjustable and is heavier than I want for the small fish that you often catch in the smaller waters with a 2/3 weight rod. I have another reel for 3 weight line (made by Abel for another brand) with a lighter drag that I prefer.

When I bought this reel it was my first introduction to a click pawl. I am surprised not only by the elegance of the reel itself, but how much drag this reel offers without applying pressure to it. It is the perfect default drag for my 4 weight and its intended fishing purpose. This reel will delicately protect tippet down to 7x on its own and still offer the extra ability to palm it if needed. Even hooking into some decent sized fish, I've only had to do so on several occasions so far. Excellent piece of gear with a finish and attention to detail (etched fly art on the inside is a really cool but subtle touch!) that can't be beat.